Mower donation gets A&P on track

GENEROUS GIFT: TFM Tractors retail sales manager Cyril Butler with Wairarapa A&P Show Association secretary Lynley Hamilton, caretaker Gynnene Sayer and president David Ellison.PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

A shiny new red ride-on mower has been donated to the Wairarapa A&P Society after theirs was stolen last week; just days after the Wairarapa A&P Show.

The keys to the new Massey Ferguson ride-on were handed over by TFM Tractors sales manager Cyril Butler yesterday.

Mr Butler said when he heard the news of the theft he knew he "needed to help" in some way especially since TFM were major sponsors of the grounds.

"So we stepped up to the mark in conjunction with Steelfort, who is our wholesaler for the mowers, and between us, we've been able to replace the mower," he said.

"Unfortunately there are some bad apples in the community, like the ones who stole this vital piece of equipment, but most people in Wairarapa are part of family oriented businesses who are willing to give back to make up for it," he said.

"It's what makes this place we live in special."

Wairarapa A&P Society secretary Lynley Hamilton was gutted by the news of the theft, especially with several showground events fast-approaching.

"There were two mowers stolen, we had the ride-on and then a push mower," she said.

"We were just absolutely gutted really after we had a wonderful A&P Show to find this had been stolen."

Mrs Hamilton said within a couple of days of the tractor having gone missing, Mr Butler phoned the society saying TFM tractors were able to donate a ride-on.

She said the donation was a "Godsend" and that she was "proud as punch" of the supportive people and businesses in the area.

"We are absolutely thrilled to bits and couldn't have asked for a neater mower for our requirements," she said.

"We have huge grounds. Our caretaker needs to be able to do her job and without her tools, we struggle.

"We have a small tractor with a mower on the back but we need a ride-on to do our campsite and smaller areas. The grass is just growing and growing at the moment so our lovely caretaker needs to be able to do her job.

"This spanking new ride-on will make things look very tidy and sharp around here."

Grounds caretaker Gynnene Sayer said she'll be using the "pretty flash machine" every week to mow the acres of lawns at Clareville.

Society president David Ellison said he was really thankful for the donation.